Automatic cleaning mechanism for stokers.



l W. J. KENNEY.

AUTOMATIC CLEANING MEcHANlsM Fo OKEs.

APPLfCATlON FILED M-AY 24, I9

Patented 5, 1916.Y I SHE y EET l mww E@ w. 1. lK ENN'EY.. AUTOMATIC CLEANING MECHANISM FOR STOKERS.

vAPPLICATION FILED MAY 211| 19.13.

1,196,870. PatentedSept. 5, 19116.

A4 SHEETS-sum 2j W. I. KENNEY.

' Aummmc CLEANING MEcHANlsM FoR sToKERs.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1913. l I I PatentedSept. 5,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IvzZm" ll/uzzwes; r

w.'I. KENNLY. y AuToMATIc CLEANING MEcIIANIsM Toa sToxEns. APPLICATION FILED NIAY 24. T913.

, vPatentedSept. 5,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

y M III/@aff y nism; Fig. 6 is a front view l the mechanism vperhaps be ready to be cleaned.

ED 'sra s PATENT ormoni.

WILLIAM JOHN KENNEY, OF WILMETTII, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOB TO UNDER-FILED STOKER COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, LA CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMEATIC CLEANING M CHANISM FOR STOKERS.

To all whom-it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KENNEY, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing\at Wilmette, county of Cook, State of Illinois,"

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Cleaning nism for Stokers, and declare the' following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which-form a part of this specification.' A

My invention has for its object to improve by which furnaces are kept clean so as to make it possible to regulate the moving of the clinkers and ashes and their discharge in such a way as to secure the best results under all the working conditions.

A further object of my invention is to produce a simple and novelselective discharging'mechanism for clinkers and ashes, by means of which the clinkers and ashes may be removed from one section without interfering with anotherl section which may not 'A further object of my invention is to simplify and improve the mechanical construction of dumping devices by means of which the clinkers and .ashes are finally discharged from a furnace.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will herein; after be pointed out with particularity in the claims; but, for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the ac companying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aV horizontal section through a. furnace equipped in accordance with my invention, a section being taken above the means for supporting and handling the fuel, clinkers and ashes; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on a plane lying at one side of one of the retorts in the furnace; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the dumping members for the clinkers and ashes; Fig. 4 is a section scale taken approximately Fig. 9.; Fig.

on line 4-4 of discharging mecharfor the cleaning and of the mecha- Specification gf Letters Patent.

"hand side of Fig. 5;

Mechaon an enlarged 5`is a view partly in plan and partly in section of the actuating mechanism nism shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a section taken approximately on line 7 7 of'Fg. 5; `F 1g./8 1s a view looking upwardly at the left and Fig. 9b is a ,front view of the hand levers for controlling the connection between the cleaning and discharge mechanism and the power device, the reciprocating power transmitting member b emgshown in section.

In the drawings I have illustrated my inventlon as applied to a furnace containing two retorts and, for the sake of brevity, the detailed description will be confined to this specllic, embodiment 4of my invention, although it will of course be understood the invention is not limited to this particular construction and arrangement.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a furnace in which are arranged the retorts 2 and 3 of an automatic under-feed Stoker of a well known type. Between the retorts is a dead plate, 4, and similar vdead plates and 6 are placed between the retorts and the side walls of the furnace. Behind the dead plates and the retorts is a bridge wall, 7, this bridge wall being spaced. apart from the rear ends of the dead plates and retortsv so as to provide ay passage, 8, through'which the clinkers and ashes may be discharged. Fuel is fed into the retorts from suitable hoppers, 9 and 1Q', by means'of suitable charging cylinders,

11 and 12,'the fuel entering the front ends of' Patented sept. 5, 1916.

y vApplication filed May-24, 1913. Serial No. 769,565.

the retorts and being fed rearwardly and-up l wardly; combustion beginning in the zones mst-below the tops of the retort; the retorts being provided with suitahleT-atwyer blocks, 13, around the tops thereof tofsupply I air under pressure from the air chamber 14 beneath the retorts and dead plates. Each dead plate is provided with one or'more rows of openingsfk, in which are pivoted dogs, 16; these dogsnormally'lying so that no part thereof projects above or, atl least, considerably above the upper surfaces of the-4 dead plates. The dogs of each longitudinal row are' connected together by a bar, 17, lying below the dead plates and each bar, 17,

is in turn connected to'a crank arm, 18,`projecting radially from a horizontal sha-ft, 19; 'the connection between the members 17 and 18 being conveniently in the form of an adjustable link, 20. When the shaft-,19 is rocked it causes the noses of the dogs to be 'v swung upward and rearward, breakingthe clinkers from the twyer blocks and feeding the entire mass overlying the dead plates toward the discharge passage.

In actual practice it very rarely happens that'there is complete uniformity inthe condition` of the burning fuel and the clinkers and ashes at all points along and in the transverse linel extending entirely across the furnace. Consequently any means which alwaysdischarges the clinlrers and ashes sil'nultaneously at all points across a furnace will not give the most emcient results. In accordance with one feature of my invention I have provided a selective discharging mechanism which will permit an accumulation of clinlrers and ashes to be discharged from 'any one of a number. of sections Without disturbing the clinlrers and ashes which have been deliv- -ered to the other sections. In the specificA ar angement shown, I accomplish this by placingv across the upper end of the discharge passage a sectional dumping shelf and providing means for operating one or more of the sections independently of the others. In the arrangement shown, the shelf is made in five sections, numbered in the drawings 2l to Q5 respectively, each sectionv lying directly behind one of the dead plates or behind one of the retorts. As will hereinafter be explained. either the section' 21 or Q2 may be` actuated independently of the other. Similarly the section Q-L may be actuated independently of the sections 23 and Thus the clinkers and ashes directly behind either retort may be discharged Without disturbing the clinlzers and ashes being-collected behind the other retort and behind the dead plates: the clinkers and ashes behind the dead plate 5 may be discharged without disturbing the accumulation behindthe retorts or the other dead plates; or the clinkers and ashes; be-

passage.

yhind the dead plates l and t may be disharged alone. Furthermore, either the section 2l or the sections 225 and may be operated simultaneously with either of the sections 21 and i2. By this means the clinkers and ashes at any point or points from unich it may be desirable to 'remove themA may be discharged yvithout disturbing the clinkers and ashes at other points ivhere it may be better not to disturb eX- isting conditions.

The sections of the dumping shelf are mounted loosely upon a horizontal shaft, Q9, lying Aat the rear side ofthe discharge 1n the arrangement shown, each shelf section has two separated hubs, 30 and 3l, through .vhich the shaft 29 passes. The hub -30 of each of the sections forms one-member of a clutch. Splined to the shaft between each pair of hubs are clutch members indicated at to 36 respectlyely, each of these clutch members being adapted to cooperate with one of th'ezhub members 30 to clutch the corresponding section of the discharging shelf to the shaft. |The clutch members and 33 are engaged by a common actuating member, 37,*so that both of these clutch members are moved simultaneously. The' clutches of which the members and 33 forni spart are oppositely disposed, however, so that when the member 37 is moved toward the left. as viewed in Fig. l. the shelf section :2l is clutched to the shaft and thefsection 2Q is left loose on the shaft. when the member 37 is moved toward the right past a neutral position, the shelf section :22 is clutched to the shaft While the section 2l is left free. In the same ivay, the clutch members 3l, 35 and 36 are all engaged by a common actuating member7 38. The clutches of which the members 3l and 36 form part are similarly disposed and are adapted to clutch 8l the shelf sections 23 and to the shaft when the actuating member is moved toyvard the left. "vhen the actuating member 38 is moved toward the right past a neuH tral position, the clutch of which the member 35 forms a part locks the shelf section 2l to the shaft. the sections 23 and 25 being left free. The member 3T extends out through the side Wall of the furnace and is there connected to a suitable actuating arm 9o or lever, 39. An actuating bar. l0. connected to the member 38 lies beside the member 37 and is connected at its outer end -to a handle or lever. l1. similar to the handle or lever 39., By pushing in on either lever, the section of the dumping shelf corresponding to one of the retorts will be clutched to the shaft. By pulling either of the levers outwardly. the dumping member 2l behind one of the dead plates. or the 10:3 dumping` members 23 and 25 behind the other txvo dead plates vvill be clutched to the shaft. dependingupon which of the handles or levers was operated. r)The shaft 29 may be oscillated at ivill by means of 110 a connecting rod. secured to one end of a crank arm. ll. projecting radially from the shaft: suitable operating means for the connecting rod being provided as will hereinafter be described.

I have found that the discharging of the clinkers and ashes requires more than a mere dumping shelf on which they are received by the cleaning mechanism. and from the retorts. Sometimes av large piece of clinlqer partly overhz'ings the discharge passage las is prevented from dropping doivn when the shelf is actuated. either by reason ot' the manner in which its mass is disposed or by reason of the clinlrers and ashes piled. around the same and which have not lVet reachedr the discharge passage.- To insure the clinkers and lashes which are to folloviT it. It is difficult to break or shear off a portion of a large clinker and therefore the presence `of breaking. or shearing means sometimes results in damaging the discharging mechanism because the clinker offers a greater resistance to disintegration than the discharging mechanism isdesigned to withstand. 4

In accordance with one feature of my invention I provide means for insuring the discharge of a large clinker which should be disposed of, in such a way that a positive discharge is effected without danger of straining the mechanism. accomplish this b v providing each section of the dumping shelf with an upwardly and forwardly curved portion, 45, arranged alongthe rear edge thereof; the radial distance from the top of the member 45 to the axis of the shaft Q9 being considerably less than the distance from this axis to the rear ends of the dead plates and retorts. Consequently, if a large clinker should be projecting only slightly over the discharge passage when the dumping mechanism is actuated, the nose 49^will clear it and thus no lstrain will be placed on the mechanism. However,` if the clinker projects so far that it should be gotten out of the way before a succeeding dumping operation, then the member 45, while the shelf is in the act of dumping, will swing down on top of the clinker and will tilt it so as to cause it to drop of its' own weight into the-discharge passage. In this way, large clinkers will be removed positively whenever necessary without subjecting the discharge mechanism to the enormous stresses incident to breaking or shearing a clinker.

The dumping shelves are subjected to considerable wear and therefore in order to save the expense of replacing a whole section after a certain amount of wear has takenplace, I provide each shelf with detachable wearing plates which can readily7 be removed and replaced by others` his feature of my invention is best illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be seen that the dumping shelf with its curved projection is made in skeleton foi-ni. Upon theiaft portion of the shelf and along the front face of the' projecting part 46 lies a which may convenienti'v be provided near the front with a depending hook, 48, adapted to engage under a shoulder,j49, on the shelfl proper, the hook extending down through a slot, 50. The plate may also be provided with one or more ears, 51, adapted to project through a slot or slots, 52, in the main portion of the shelf and lbeheld against witl drawal b v means of a pin or pins, 53, inserted throughv the same. On the rear side of the projecting portion, `46, of the shelf 1s a curved plate, 54, hooked at its upper front end over the upper ed'ge 'of the plate 47 as detachable plate, 47,

jecting laterally bar 64 is connected to a Suit- 125 indicated at 55 arid having an ear, 56, which extends through a slot, 57, in the main portion of the shelf. A pin, 58, passing through the ear 56 prevents the withdrawal of the' same.. It will thus be seen that by removing 7 the pin 58 the plate 54 which forms the nose of the clinker pusher may be lifted out of position, so that this member may be removed and replaced quickly and .conveniently. In the same way, the plate 54 being out of the way, by simply removing a pin or pins 51, the plate 47 may be detached. Therefore, whenevery one of the plates be-` comes worn, it can quickly be removed and be replaced by another without requiring the services ofl askilled mechanic and without wasting any part which is still in av useful condition. While I have referred to the plates 47 and 54 as extending across the 'entire width of a shelf section, it is of course evident that these plates may be made narrower so that it will require two or more lying side byside'to cover one of the sec- Y tions. i 4

It is desirable to actuate the cleaning mechanism, that is Ithe dogs, 1G, and the discharging mechanism, that is the dumping shelves, without regard to each other;l or, at least, without making it necessary to opcrate one whenever the other is operated. It is furthermore desirable to permit either the cleaning mechanism or the discharging mechanism to be operated at will, so that either may be allowed to remainv idle or be i caused to operate, just as the conditions re- 1 0 quire. To this endI have provided a suitable power device, GOpwhich may conveniently be in the form of a steam cylinder and piston, together with ine-ans for connecting either or both the cleaning mechanisin or the discharging mechanism thereto at will.4 In the arrangement shown, (see Figs. 2 and 5 to 9,) the horizontal shaft 19 has joiirnaled thereon one end of an arm, G1, whose other endis i'ocating power-transmitting bai` or rod, 62, extending from the power device (30. Fixed to the shaft 19 beside the arm Gl is a depending arm, G3.A AQn -the lower end of the arm G3 is a suitablegcatch device which` permits this arin to be locked to the powertransmitting rod so that as the rod reciprocates the shaft.. 19 is caused to oscillate, thus setting the cleaning mechanism into motion. In the arrangement shown, is hinged to the lower end of the arm`63 a bar, 64. having in the bottom thereof a notch, G5, adapted to receiveI a pin, G6, profrom the member 62. The# free end of the able hand lever. (5T. By moving the handy lever G7 in one direction, the bar 64 is raised so as to bring the notch therein clear of the pin 66. hen the handlever is moved in the opposite direction, the-bar 64 is dropped 130- hinged tothe recip- 1 0 there L ,'//I so that the pin 66 is caught in thy/notch and the bar 0l there-after reciproca'esas a 'pai'.t of the vpower-transmitting rod'G. On

the shaft 19 is loosely hung a third arm, 6,8,

vthe loiver end of which is hinged to a bar,

69, similar tothe bar 64 but lying on the opposite sidenof the member 62 from that onv which the bar 64: is located. The bar 69 has in its under side a notch, 70, corresponding to the notch (S5, the notch 70 being adapted to receive a pin, 7l, projecting laterally from the poWer-transmitting meinber The front end of the bar (39 is con- Qnected to a suitable hand lever, 72, similar the shaft :29 of the discharging mechanism is oscillated is connected to the arm 68 as indicated at 7'3. Consequently when the arm (5S is couplcd'to the poiver-transmitting device G2 the shaft will be oseillated so thatavhenever it is desired to actuateI the dumping` shelves it is only necessary to throw in the proper clutches in order to discharge the clinkers and ashes uf'lierever and `Whenever desired.

It Will thus be see-ii that I have provided an extremely ieXible cleaning and dis? charging mechanism by means of which it Vis possible to feed the clinkers and ashes toward the discharge ,passage when and as desired and to effect the final removal of the clinkeis and ashes in the most advanta geous manner.

lVhile, for the salte of brevity, I have illustrated and described only a single stolzer apparatus in which all of the various features are combined ina definite manner, I do not desire to be limited to the specific structural details illustrated and described or to an apparatus in which all of the various novel features of my invention are incorporated; but I intend to cover all forms and arrangements which embody any one or more of the novel features, as will be evident from the terms employed in the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims.

I claim'.

1. In combination, a furnace, a support for .fuel and ashes in said furnace, means for A moving the ashes toward one edge of said support, a sectional discharging mechanism foi' the ashes adjacent to said edge, a poiver shaft, and means vfor selectively clutching the sections of said discharging mechanisnfn to said shaft. s

2. In combination, a-furnace, a su )port `for fuel and ashes in said furnace, means lfor moving the ashes toward one edge'of said support, a Isectional discharging mecha nism for the ashes adjacent to said edge, an

actuator, and means for selectively connecting the sections of said discharging mechanism to said actuator.

3. In combination, a furnace, a retort within the fuinace,supports for clinkers and ashes beside the retort, a sectional discharging mechanism arranged beyond one end of the retort, an actuator, and means for connecting to theactuatoi' either the sections of said mechanism adjacent to said supports or adjacent to said retort or all of the sections.

Lf. In combination. a furnace, a retort in said furnace, supports for clinkers and ashes beside said retort, and means at one end of said retort and said supports for discharg ing the clinkers a'nd ashes delivered at said end of the retort independently of the elinkers and ashes vdelivered at said end from the said supports,

In combination, a furnace, a retort in said furnace, means for feeding fuel into lone end of the retort, cleaning mechanism at the sides of the retort for receiving elinkers and ashes from the retort and moving them inthe direction ofthe length of the retort, and means for discharging the clinkers and ashes delivered from the other end ofthe retort and from said mechanism independently of each other.

(5. In combination, a furnace, a retort in said furnace, means -for feeding fuel into one end of the retort, cleaning mechanism at the side of the retort for receiving clinhers land ashes therefrom and moving them in the direction of the length of the retort, means for discharging the clinkers delivered from the other end of the retort,'and other means capable of actuating independently 'of the aforesaid means for discharging the clinkers and ashes delivered from said clean` ing mechanism.

T. In combination, a furnace, a retort in said furnace, means forfeeding fuel into one end ofthe retort, cleaning mechanism at the sides of the retort for receiving clinliers and ashes flowing over the side of the retort and moving them in the direction of the -other end of the retort, a sectional discharging mechanism for clinkei's and ashes, one section of said discharging mechanism receiv ing` clinkersfroin the retort and another section receiving clinkers and ashes from said cleaning mechanism, and means for actuating one of said sections ivithout actuating the remainder.

8. In combination. a furnace, a retort in said furnace, dead plates beside the retort and adapted' to receive clinkers and ashes therefroim .iieans for feeding fuel into one end ofthe retort, a discharging device for cl'inlters and` ashes adjacent to the opposite end of the retort, means for feeding the clinhers and ashes on the dead plates in Avthe direction of the length of the retort, a seclil@ plates, and' means 4ond discharging device located adjacent to the dead plates and clinkers and'ash'es delivered from the dead for actuating said devices independently of each other.

9. In combination, a furnace, a retort in the furnace, means for feeding fuel into one end of the retort, cleaning lmechanism beside the retort for receiving clinkers and ashes therefrom and moving them toward the opposite end, a plurality of dumping plates arranged adjacent to the i'etortand to said mechanism at the latter end of theretort, and means for actuating said plates independently of each other. 'i

10.' In combination, a furnace, a retortlin the furnace, means-for feeding fuel into dne iso end of the retort, cleaning mechanism eside the retort for receiving clinkers and ashes therefrom and movingthem toward the opposite end, a plurality ofduinping plates arranged adjacent to the retort and to said mechanism at the latter end of the retort, one of said plates extending substantially from one sideof the retortto the other,

and means for actuating said plates independently of eachother.

11; In combination, a furnace, a retort in the furnace, cleaning mechanism beside the retort for receiving clinkers and ashes therethem toward oneend of the retort, a shaft journaled at said end of the retort, a plurality of independent discharging devices loosely mounted on said shaft, means for turning-said shaft, and selective means for clutching said devices to said shaft.

12. In combination, afurnace, a retort in the furnace, cleaning mechanism beside the retort, sectional cleaning mechanism at one end of the retort, one section registering with the retort and another section registering with the cleaning mechanism, and means foi' selectively actuating said sections. f

'13. An ash-discharging device for furnaces comprising a frame having an upwardly projecting inwardly curvedportion at one end, a wearing plate detachably mounted on to of the frame and at the front side of said upwardly projecting portion, and a second wearing plate arranged on the outer side of said upwardly projecting portion and extending forwardly to the other wearing plate.

14. An ash-discharging device for furnaces comprising a frame having a flat porfromi and feeding tion and an upwardly-projecting curved member, a detachable wearing plate o verlying the flat portion and the inner side of the curved member of said frame, and a vsecond .wearing plate detachably connected to and overlying the member.

15. In combination, for fuel and clir 'Kers and a furnace, a siipport ashes in said furadapted to discharge the outer side of said curved nace, there being a discharge passage forclinkers and ashes at one end of said supil f.

port, means for moving the clinkers and?v ashes toward' said passage, and a discharge device comprising a plate extending across said passage and pivotally'supported on an axis remote from said support, .said plate having thereon a part projecting upwardly above said support so located and proportioned that when the plate is swung down said. part swings toward said support but at all 'times remains separated from the ietort by a considerable space. f

16. In combination, a furnace having a support for'fuel and clinikers and ashes and having also a. discharge passage at one end of the support, means for feeding the elinkers and ashes toward said passage, a shelf extending across saidpassage and mounted to swing about a horizontal axis remote from the support, said shelf having an upward proj ecti on whose extreme end is spaced from said axis a 'distanceconsiderably less than the distance between said axis and said support and which extends above said support.

17. In combination, a furnace hz'iving` ai support for fuel and plinkers and ashes and having also a discharge passage at one end of said. support, means for feeding the clinlrl ers and ashes toward said passage, a shelf extending across said passage to receive the clinkers and ashes, said shelf being mounted to swing about a horizontal axis remote from said support, a narrow portion of thle shelf farthest removed from the said sup`' port being curved upwardly and in the direction of and to a point above said-support, and means for swinging said shelf.

18. In combination, a. furnace having a support for fuel andj a discharge passage for clinkers and ashes, a shelf extending across said passage and vmounted so as to swing about a. horizontalaxis near one side of the passage, said shelf having` at the latter side of the passage an iipwardlyprojecting part extending above the 'top of said support and considerably narrower than the passage, and means for swinging said shelf.

19. In combination, a furnace, a support for fuel and clinkers and ashesin said furnace, there being a discharge passage for 'clinkers and ashes at .one end of said support, means for removing the clinkers and ashes toward said passage, and a 'discharge device comprising a pla-teaextending across said passage and pivotally supported on an axis remote fronisaid support, sa-id plate having a. part in l.the vicinity of said .axis projecting upwardly above the plane of said support and having a height considerably less than the distance between said support and said axis.

20. In combination, a furnace, a support for fuel and clinkeifs and ashes in said furnace, there being a 'discharge passage for clinkei's and ashes at one end of said snpp01't,means for moving the ciinkers and ashes toward Said passage, a discharge device conipi'ising ay plate extending aci-ose said passage, and pimtally supported on an axis remote from said support, said plate having al part projecting upwardly above the plane of Said support and curved fm'- Wardiy toward Said Support to a point spaced apart from said axis a distance con- Siderabiy lees-,than the distance between said support and said axis.

In testimony whereof. I :sign Vthis. specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J OHN KENNEY.

,Vitnesses MARGARET liLAi-Um, Maman D. STRETCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, B. C. 

